Japanese volunteer works with Ugandan farmers to boost rice yields

The Embassy of Japan and the Itek-Okile Rice Growers Multipurpose Co-operative Society are working together to improve rice farming in the Lira District of northern Uganda.

This partnership aims to help more than 1,500 cooperative members overcome production challenges such as poor water management, seed selection, and high costs for commercial fertilizers. Mikio Kasahara, a Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteer specializing in agriculture, conducts field trials at the Olweny Irrigation Scheme to compare different rice varieties.

He collects data on crop growth, pests, and diseases to help farmers choose the most productive varieties for local conditions. Kasahara also tests compost manure to provide a cheaper alternative to expensive chemical fertilizers and explores growing tomatoes in unused spaces. Farmers in the area report that the project has introduced better field layouts, including bunds and waterways to regulate water flow between plots. These improvements allow growers to control water levels more effectively.

The cooperative also uses organic waste to create compost in pits, which helps improve soil fertility while reducing spending on external inputs. Masanobu Yonemitsu of the Embassy of Japan stated that the volunteer program is part of a broader effort to increase the living standards of rural households by improving agricultural productivity. Japan has sent 846 volunteers to Uganda over the last 25 years to share professional skills and work alongside local communities.